The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-14
CLEVELAND STILL HAS BACKBONE.

President Cleveland, in his refusal to at
tend the annual encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic, to be held in st..
Louis, in September, has done the digni-
fed and proper thing. His refusal of the.
invitation of the citizens of st. Louis, to
be present in their city upon that occas-
ion, is couched in courteous, yet deter
mined words, that do him and his sense of
self-respect and respect for his high office
great credit. Thinking he would be 'an
commandery whose highest officials had
INDUCED in "wanton attack" upon him,
because of an official action he considered
he performed in pursuance of a plain
duty under his oath, he will neither sub
ject himself to the indignity of being such
a visitor, nor will he, by his
presence, condone this "wanton at
tack" Aud, further, learning that
many G. A. R. Posts had determined to
absent themselves from the encampment,
should he attend its exercises, and con-
ceding it to be "their encampment," he
will throw no obstacle in the way of per.
feet concord and the harmonious carrying
out of the detailed plans for the encamp-
ment. His letter OF declination of the in
vitation closes with the "hope that the
encampment may illustrate the highest
patriotism of American citizenship" Is
Fairchild pleased, is he entirely satisfied?
He should be, as to Judge from his wild
utterances he is a man of soul SO little
and petty, as to exult in such triumphs-
and he has conquered the president. No
into the faces of the people of this entire
nation, for he has insulted not man, but
the president of this nation. But, specif-
cally stated, he has done more
than this. He has told the peo-
pie of st. Louis plainly this: You some
months ago, with great show of zeal and
enthusiasm,sent large committee of citi-
zens to Westinghouse formal style,to pre-
sent the president the freedom of the city
of st. Louis, and in earnest terms petition
him to visit your city. I, Fairchild, in
braggart and stilted style, have insulted
that president and posts of the vast body
over which am chief have, in imitation
of my action, decided to add to that in
suit, till now we have made it impossible
for this president to accept of your hospi-
tality-in other words, we have forbidden
him the city. Dress the situation in what
language you may, it will resolve itself
into this plain, unvarnished fact-that
one inflated, scheming, political trickster,
by some strange and untoward misfortune
at the head of the organization known as
the Grand Army of the Republic, has frus-
trated the wish and ardent hope of great
city like St. Louis. This may be one re-
suit of democracy-but heaven forefend
such principles should gain currency, such
abuses grow prevalent.
The President has acted like a man,
and the odium of his refusal and it's con-
sequent incidents must for many a long
day react upon the Grand Army of
the Republic, whose leaders are
making tool of it for the basest
ends We believe the spirit at the bottom
of that organization is good and pure,
but it is being twisted and perverted by
designing and corrupt leaders. There
should be a change all around IN that
respect, and clean men be placed in those
positions of trust and responsibility.